Happy July! I hope these “lazy days of summer” are treating you well. Not quite lazy days for us moms, right? Still, this summer I am in a much better place overall. The past couple of summers were challenging for me, on emotional and mental levels. This summer things are significantly better.

This is vague discussion, I realize. There are some things that can’t be explained in a blog post. Matters that work their way into parenting and motherhood and also mere stages of life and our development as people. I would love to be able to open up about them all, but this isn’t the time. I guess what I’m saying – or trying to say – is that if you are feeling challenged by personal circumstances right now, it may help to remember that saying “this too shall pass”. Even if it doesn’t pass in entirety, it can certainly lessen. This is what I’ve experienced, and now trust in.

Well!… So much for jumping into my “favorites” post, huh? Sometimes I want to share more than surface information with you, rather than launching into a recipe or other post. I’m a very sensitive person by nature, so while it’s not easy for me to discuss deep matters, it also feels very disingenuous to post week to week without talking on some personal level.

Shall we continue now? Ok. 🙂

First, are you enjoying the favorites posts? Please let me know in the comments. If they are fun and worthwhile for you, I’ll keep them coming.

Organic Cotton Candy Grapes

How? Where? When? What?!! How on earth do these grapes actually taste like cotton candy? I heard of them last summer, but didn’t find them locally until this past month. Very crisp (they should be, don’t buy them soft), and entirely sweet. We each had the same odd experience with our first taste. We took a bite, stopped for a second, then reacted with “holy, they DO taste like cotton candy“. Nature’s candy at its best. More info here.

Date Lady Balsamic Vinegar

This is a brilliant product. I loveit. It’s essentially a balsamic reduction, but not quite as intensely tangy as most reductions – and without refined sugars. I use it on salads, roasted veggies, drizzled on breads and pastas and so much more. It’s available on amazon.com here, and if you are in Canada (or elsewhere) you can also order through Vegan Supply.

Untangled: Guiding Teenage Girls Through the Seven Transitions into Adulthood

The topic of parenting teenage girls deserves a devoted blog. Nevertheless, I will mention this book because I am finding it very useful. Months ago I was talking to a mom at a baseball camp. We got chatting about all the challenges our young girls have now entering puberty and teenage years. The stressors of growing up in a demanding digital world, how that affects their important social connections, and how we as moms try to navigate that along with ‘normal’ teenage girl developments. She mentioned she heard the author, Lisa Damour, speak on a radio program. After our discussion, I googled like we do, read a few articles, and finally ordered the audio book. Since I spend a lot of my time cooking and cleaning, I find it easier to listen to audiobooks than sit and read. In short, if you have a teenage daughter, this book is worthwhile. If you don’t want to pick up a copy, hit your local library!

Teva Women’s Flatform Universal Sandal

What’s a ‘favorites’ post without shoes?! Last year I shared how much I loved my Sanuk flip flops. This year it’s these Teva Flatforms. I’m not one for clunky platforms, but I do love a cuhsion-y thick sole. I actually find a thicker sole more comfortable than a full flat. So these hit my sweet spot. Extra cushion in a comfy vegan sandal that’s cute. CUTE. I adore these, and holy they are comfortable to walk in. I may get a second pair, if I can justify the purchase. 🙂 I have the candy stripe in black, and also love the white/yellow combo. Sizing with shoes is always tricky, so I read the reviews on sizing. I’m usually a size 7 1/2 (occasionally a 7). I ordered the 7 and these Teva sandals fit perfectly.

Sarah Beth Yoga & Fitness Marshall

A couple of years ago I posted my fitness routine. I still exercise everyday, but for the last year or more I’m doing much more yoga along with my rebounding. I’m thinking of sharing an updated fitness post, if it’s of interest. For now, I thought I’d share two YouTube fitness and yoga channels that I love: Sarah Beth Yoga and The Fitness Marshall. Yes, they are polar opposites!

Some days I need yoga. Actually, most days I need – and love – yoga. There are about 5-7 channels I use, and Sarah Beth is one of my favorites. I especially love her vinyasa routines. Hers are the only ones where I truly connect with the breath to movement, movement to breath. I feel the difference making that connection, so I return to her routines all the time.

Often I want just 5-10 minutes of fun, crazy, don’t-take-things-too-serious cardio before yoga. Or, a full 15-20 minutes of that feeling! I turn to dance and zumba channels, and the Fitness Marshall is one of my favorites. Not sure there are too many 45 year old moms joining him, but this mama is. Note: Yeah, most of his videos and songs are suggestive. Not workouts to do with the kids around. Like most channels, I have a few favorite vids. This is surely one of my faves by the Fitness Marshall. I am waiting for those backup booties to return! Few otherhonorablementions! Most of the time, yep, I do these vids on my bellicon. Touch weird, I know, but then I’m so am I. 🙂 If this workout info interests you, let me know and I’ll do that follow-up fitness post.

A couple of weeks ago I shared my love for Happy Planet Soups. Today, I’m going to expand on my discussion about “extending” their soups – in return, you will stretch your meal to serve more in your family, saving you money and time!

See, I’ve entered “teenage appetite” years. I’ve heard about it from other parents, how much food you go through with growing teenagers. Our first-born, Charlotte, is almost 15. (I can barely believe that as I type it.) Bridget is 11, and our wee Hope is almost 7. The two older girls can eat! With playing hockey and growing, they have robust appetites. Gone are the days of finding ways to get them to eat their dinner. Instead, I ask them not to finish their food before I have finished plating!

With this, food prep can be time consuming at this stage. Every other day I hit a store for fresh produce. Then, there’s prepping, baking, cooking – along with my recipe testing. Between their appetites and activities, my work and household management, I welcome healthy shortcuts more than ever.

One of the shortcuts I use is to take wholesome soups, and use them as a “base” to add more nutrient-dense ingredients. As I mentioned in my previous posts, there aren’t a lot of commercial soups that I actually want to buy. With canned and tetra-pak soups, there is a preserved flavor that I generally don’t like. The Happy Planet soups give a fresher flavor (closer to homemade), which works beautifully as a starting base.

So, today, I’m going to show you how to take some of these Happy Planet soups and add your own produce and pantry staples. I do it all the time to get more servings for my family – stretching our food dollar and also boosting the soup’s nutritional value.

Happy Planet has quite a few vegan soup choices. My favorites are the Moroccan Bean Stew, Santa Fe 4 Bean Chili, Thai Coconut Corn Stew, and West African Squash and Cashew Soup. Of course, these are our favorite soups and my suggestions for add-ins. Feel free to get creative and try your own soup twists!

One of these soups usually makes it into my weekly meal planning, especially when days/seasons are particularly busy.

I hope these ideas are useful to you, and you are inspired to try it out yourself. Please let me know if you’d like more posts with these types of tips, and share your own smarty-pants ideas! More soon, and my thanks to Marika for these beautiful food photos.

x DreenaThis post is sponsored by Happy Planet. Opinions are my own, and I only post about products and brands I truly love myself. Thank you for supporting the brands that make my work on Plant-Powered Kitchen possible.

Update: I just found some practical, well-design water bottles – at Winners! I’ve updated the image and linked to the amazon page.

I’ve shared some posts with my top baking recipes for back-to-school, and also my go-to foods and tips for packing plant-powered lunches. Today, I’ve decided to help you with the logistics of packing lunches, from kitchen gear to organization.

Packing lunches seems to strike either anxiety or grief with parents – or a bit of both. It’s understandable, between school allergy issues, eating a vegan diet, and individual weegan food preferences, it can feel like all too much. A little planning goes a very long way.

So, here are my 5 tips to help get you 0rganized to pack plant-powered lunches:

1. Batch Cooking and Baking. I talk about batch cooking in some detail in Plant-Powered Families. It’s not just helpful for planning dinners, but also for packing lunches. The benefits apply to both ingredients/individual foods and specific recipes. Are you…

Baking potatoes? Bake another 5-6 spuds. You can use them in lunches – sliced in sandwiches, cubed to dip in hummus, mixed with veggies or beans as a salad, added to a thermos soup, etc.

Making hummus? Do at least a double batch. Refrigerate and freeze portions so you don’t have to make it every week.

Cooking pasta for dinner? Make extra and use another day in a lunch (many ideas in PPF).

Making snack cookies or muffins? Double batch and freeze some for next week. This will save you time in the long run, and you’ll get into a groove with some regular lunch fixes that your kiddos love.

Red Lentil Hummus – a reader fave from Plant-Powered Families!

2. Lunchbox Picks. What will work best for you to pack lunches? We’ve had some discussion on this in our PPF FB group. Some of us mamas love the bento style boxes. I recently got a PlanetBox, and while it’s a little pricier than some other lunchboxes, I think it’s worth the price.

PlanetBox Rover

It’s stainless steel, very durable, and with a smart design. In the past I’ve used boxes with lidded containers, and the girls often lost components. It’s a bit of a nuisance to replace those pieces, so that’s something to consider. For another option, choose the widely available ziploc or glad containers. They are BPA-free now, and come in many different sizes. I’ve found that useful for the past number of years packing for bigger and smaller appetites. I also pack hubby’s lunch, and send him off with 5 or 6 containers. I also re-use containers from vegan yogurt and dips for things like grapes, crackers, segmented oranges, and other small lunch items.

Copco BPA-free water bottles

Having two or three BPA-free water bottlesper kiddo is also very helpful. Many times bottles are left behind in the classroom. I like to fill the girls’ water bottles the night before. It saves just another few minutes in a frantic school morning! *After writing this post I stumbled on the coolest water bottles – at Winners. Actually, Charlotte found them. She’s at that age where some water bottles are just ‘not cool’… anything with patterns or worse, flowers! What I like about these copco bottles is that they are compact, fit in backpack side pouches easily, and yep, they are BPA-free. Also, they unscrew about 1/3 of the way down for easy cleaning, and also to add ice cubes or citrus slices! And the attached cap is brilliant.

3. Keep It Simple. Kids love their favorite foods, and lunch times at school are not the time I “experiment” with new foods. Unless the girls ask to try something in their lunches, I stick to the foods I know they’ll love and eat. Why? Because they have very little time to eat (about 10-15 minutes), and I want them to actually eat! I prefer to use dinner hour and weekends as times to work in some new food choices or work on those picky food tendencies. So, keep it simple for yourself and your kiddos. You’ll save yourself some money – and a lot of stress.

4. Rotate Key Recipes. On that note of keeping it simple, make a list (either on paper or mental notes) of some key recipes to rotate week to week. As the school year progresses, you may want to freshen up the recipes with some new ones you’ve discovered and the kids really enjoy. But start now with a list of some favorites. For us, it’s Chickpea Nibbles (PPF, recipe also here), Simplest Marinated Tofu (PPF, recipe also here), muffins and snack bars, Super Cheesy Sprinkle (PPF) and plenty of hummus recipes!

Simplest Marinated Tofu

Also don’t hesitate to rely on some quick fixes for weekly rotation. Some of ours: *Amy’s Baked Beans (stir in another cup or more of cooked beans, stretch that sauce!), whole-grain fig/fruit bars, and nut-free veggieburgers. (*As a side, I often make sandwiches with the Amy’s Baked Beans (+extra beans). Put a layer between whole-grain bread, add a slice of Daiya cheese if you like, voila! Baked bean sandwich.)

A weegan favorite: Chickpea Nibbles!

5. Kitchen Gadgets and Appliances. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again and again… there are a couple of kitchen appliances that make my food prep a lot easier. First, a large capacity food processor. I have a Breville, it’s 16-cup and BPA-free. I don’t think you need a 16-cup, but at least a 12-cup (and preferably 14). This is how I triple, and even quadruple, batches of hummus. I also make double batches of veggie burgers and protein power balls (also from PPF, nut-free for school!). Second, a very good blender. Preferably high-speed. I use aBlendtec. and I’ve had it for about 8 years now. Yes, it’s more expensive than a standard blender. But, it does a heck of a lot more! I use mine daily (usually 2-3 times a day), for morning smoothies. Then, I use the twister jar for things like sauces, salad dressings, chia puddings, nut butters, and the nut-free super cheesy sprinkle the girls love so much. We lost power recently for a full day, and I felt lost without my Blendtec! I use it in many recipes throughout PPF, as well as here on the blog. If you don’t yet have a Blendtec,stay tuned – giveaway coming up! 🙂

Blendtec blender – stay tuned for giveaway!

I hope these tips help you get a little more organized for the school year. Please share any tips that you think might help others reading – and me too!

With school coming to a close this week, I want to share something pretty remarkable that took place this year.

In the spring, our 10 year old, Bridget, came to me after school about speeches taking place in her class. The conversation went something like this:

B: Mom, we are doing speeches in our class and get to pick our own topic.

Me: Ok, well, what do you think you’d like to talk about?

B: I already know. I want to talk about why people shouldn’t eat meat and dairy.

I paused for a minute. Then I replied “Are you sure?? We can think of other ideas?”

In other words, Iwasn’t sure. While we talk about many aspects of food at home, I don’t expect our girls to be activists in school or with their friends. I don’t ask them to preach the values of a plant-based diet. But this came up entirely organically for her. Despite my questioning her readiness, she was certain. She was passionate to share why she felt, in her heart, why people shouldn’t eat meat and dairy.

She presented her speech to her class, and was then chosen to present her speech to the school and parents.

I’m posting her speech for you to read and share:

Good morning / afternoon teachers and fellow students!

Raise your hand if you eat meat or dairy. Raise your hand if you think you have to eat meat and dairy to be healthy.

My name is Bridget, and today I’m going to share 3 important reasons not to eat meat and dairy: our health, the environment, and animals.

Meat and dairy are not good for us like people think. Studies have shown that our biggest health problems are linked to eating meat and dairy – including heart disease, diabetes, and some cancers. We don’t need to eat meat or dairy, we can get all the nutrition we need in other foods like vegetables, fruits, beans, and grains. Not only can you be healthier without eating meat and dairy, it is also better for our environment, and kinder to animals that share our world.

In order for us to eat meat and dairy, animals have to be raised in factory farms. These are not farms with grass and sunshine. Instead, animals are kept in buildings that are factories, and people are cruel to the animals. Animals suffer and are tortured every day of their lives on these farms. On milk farms, baby cows are even torn away from their moms so the mommy cows can produce milk. If they don’t produce enough milk they kill the cows. The baby cows never see their mothers again.

Eating meat and milk products is also bad for our environment. We all want to do things like recycle, and use less water to help our environment. But, the one thing that makes the MOST difference? How much meat and dairy we eat. Consider this: skipping just one burger saves enough water to drink for 3 months!

Chickens, pigs, and cows feel and love just the same as animals like cats and dogs. They bond with other animals, and with people too. They value their lives just as much as we do, and they feel pain just as we do. If people treated our cats and dogs the way cows and chickens are treated on factory farms, they would be arrested! Yet, we eat these animals every day, but we would never imagine eating our dog or cat.

I have been raised without meat and dairy. I’m healthy, happy, and just like other kids. I eat pizza, hot dogs, burgers, ice cream, and so many other delicious foods, without any meat or milk! Every time we make a choice not to eat animals, it helps our health, our planet, and the animals. Please think about this. Thank you.

She asked if she could wear the “Plant-Powered” t-shirt for her speech. I didn’t encourage that one, either! Here she is on her way out the door that morning…

…and here she is delivering her speech to the school (see the raised hands?)

As a parent, we wonder whether our children are receiving the lessons and messages we are communicating. When days are tough, we feel our efforts are wasted, or that we are doing a terrible job as a mother or father. Then, we have moments where we see our children blossoming, developing into their own person. We see their heart, their courage, their care, their beautiful spirit.

This was one of those moments for me. Bridget feels more compassion about animals than any of our daughters. It’s just “in” her. She wants to free every bug or fly that enters our home, and she wants to start an animal rescue this summer… at our house! (We’ll talk about that one, lol.) But, this child has a heart for animals. More than I ever impressed upon her or ever expected. She was proud to present this speech, and I was beyond proud to listen to her.

Do you have a “weegan”? Are you a plant-powered cook? Do you want spread the word about eating vegan and Living plant-powered?

Now you can… with these energetic, bright t-shirts, totes, and aprons. Yes, even onesies!

Since I started writing Plant-Powered Families two years ago, I’ve wanted to bring out some feel-good vegan t-shirts and items. So, a couple of months ago I hired a designer and an assistant to help out with these designs. I’m really pleased with them, and hope you like them too. Here’s just a few of the items (link through to see ALL).

My favorite so far is this bamboo tank! Yep, I ordered one for myself (and an apron, and kiddo tee, etc). And, if I had still had a wee babe, I’d have defintiely ordered that onesie too!

It’s almost cute enough to try for a 4th. Almost. 😉

These items and more (including mugs and aprons) are now available through this page. Just in time for Mother’s Day!

Also, remember you have a chance to win a selection of these goodies! Check out my post for details.

Stay tuned, next week I have a wicked giveaway for Mother’s Day… and a site makeover!

Please tell me… do you like the designs? What else would you like to see down the road? More quotes? Different items? Please send along your feedback so I can create more designs for your plant-powered self and loved ones!

This post contains affiliate links. Your support allows me to create more great content. Thank you.

Plant-Powered Families is here! I’ve mentioned this new cookbook a few times, and today I can officially announce that it releases on May 12th! In this cookbook, I share over 100 recipes, plus insights and tips from my 14 years of raising 3 “weegans”.

All the recipes are vegan, whole foods plant-based, and many with allergy-friendly options to make them nut-free or gluten-free. This is collection of both new recipes along with selected “tried and true” dishes. I have revised some old favourites, making them easier, more nutritious, and also with some allergy-friendly alternatives. Of course, there are many new food creations, including:

Sunday Morning Pancakes

Cinnamon French Toast

Blueberry Lassy Muffins

No-Bake Granola Bars

Green Superhero Dressing

Cheesy Caesar Dressing

Potato-Meets-Egg-Salad

‘Baconut’

Red Lentil Hummus

Vegan Feta

Motsa’ Dip

Ultimate Cashew Cheese

Cream of Cauliflower Soup

Smoky Bean Chili

Smashing Squash Soup

Thick ‘n Hearty Tomato Sauce

Polenta Pizza Crust

Artichoke Sunflower Burgers

Ta-Quinos!

Autumn Dinner Loaf with Homestyle Gravy

Saucy BBQ Chickpeas and Green Beans

Creamy Fettucine

“ShipShape” Joe’s

Balsamic-Glazed Sweet Potato Fries

Peanut Butter Pudding with Berrylicious Swirl

Fudgesicles

Vanilla Bean Chocolate Chip Cookies

Crazy Brownies

Apple Spice Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Protein Power Balls

Apple Nachos Supreme… and more!

Cinnamon French Toast

Artichoke Sunflower Burgers

Red Lentil Hummus

Vegan Feta

Cream of Cauliflower Soup (with Seasoned Polenta Croutons)

Autumn Dinner Loaf with Homestyle Gravy

Saucy BBQ Chickpeas and Green Beans

CRAZY Brownies with Chocolate Ganache

Apple Spice Cake with “Cream Cheese” Frosting

Apple Nachos Supreme

Beyond the recipes, this is where you will find my vegan mama insights and food tips… answering the questions I hear from readers so often, including:

What do you pack in your kids’ school lunches? How do you make them nut-free?

What do you serve at birthday parties? Do you send your children to non-vegan parties and social events?

How do you handle weekly food preparation? What do you batch-cook/freeze?

… and the ever-popular: HELP! I have a picky eater!

I answer all these questions — and more — sharing what I’ve learned and as a mom of three for the past 14 years. I’ve also included a nutritional FAQ section, with help from my friend and colleague Heather Nicholds.

As parents raising children on a plant-based diet, the question of protein is always present. At first we question ourselves. After researching we come to understand how a whole-foods vegan diet provides ample protein, and are (usually!) at ease with the issue. Yet, the question remains, as we are often asked about protein by friends, family, and also new vegetarians and vegans.

Other than recipe emails, protein for kids is the question I receive most from readers.

What are some protein-rich foods I cam give my kids? What are recipes kids will love? What foods do your kids like most, Dreena?

I’ve shared 12 kid-tested, mom-approved recipes in this piece – including a couple of new recipes!

photo credit: kokoskitchen.com

I ask that you please support this article. Comment on the post, and share it through your social media networks. I was thrilled to have the opportunity to write this piece for Today’s Parent. We can encourage mainstream media to include more vegetarian lifestyle pieces through our support. So, please share this piece through facebook, pinterest, twitter, Google+, etc. Thank you!

Read on at Today’s Parent, and please share your thoughts here, as well as there. Enjoy!

p.s. Special thanks to Sarah Wise for cheerleading my work and helping make this article happen!

Post Update: If you have Plant-Powered Families, these tips and MOREare now in the packing lunches section. Flip to page 233… and breathe easy!

Does the thought of packing school lunches again make you cringe? It can be frustrating to plan and pack school lunches, and that can feel even more overwhelming when eating vegan or plant-strong, especially now that most schools require nut-free lunches.

I’m here to take some of that stress away today. I’ve been packing lunches for our girls (and my hubby) for about ten years now, so I’ve learned some tricks and definitely have a school-year system.

One of my tricks is to rely on some key recipes. Ones that are easy, quick, that my kids love, and that pack well for school lunches. I’m sharing them with you today, along with some other tips for school-lunch success.

I would be lost without our Chickpea Nibbles. For years I made Tamari Roasted Chickpeas (from ed&bv), and then I needed a recipe even easier. Enter Chickpea Nibbles from PPF. I make double and triple batches of these. Seriously, my kiddos eat one batch in one sitting – easily. Sometimes I hide away extra for lunches in the fridge, just so they won’t eat them all straight away. #meanmama What to do with them beyond snacking? Add them as a side snack in lunches, or mix into pasta, or rice/quinoa. Mash into a sandwich with your kiddos’ fave condiments. FYI, the school kids may also want them. I’ve had requests. 🙂

Now that the hummus food group movement has officially begun (thank you Simple Reminders), get started with my Creamy Hummus! But don’t stop there. Try theseother varieties. And, you know you can FREEZE hummus, right? Yes, double or triple batch, then freeze in about 2-cup portions. It thaws beautifully, take it out the night before and pop in the fridge. How to use? In sandwiches, slathered in wraps, as a dip for veg and rice crackers or pitas, on pizzas, as a spread for bagels or on pizzas, thinned out and mixed into pasta!

It’s just impossible for me to narrow this down to one recipe. But, I can narrow it down to 5 or so recipes that I make every week through the school year. These recipes are staples to pack in lunches for recess, and also for hubby’s lunch: (1) Maple Banana Bread, (2) Pumpkin Seed and Chocolate Chip Oat Bars (now 25% off my ebook with code PP15school), (3) Banana Oat Bundles, (4) Snackles (original and pumpkin!), (5) Apple-Hemp Muffins. Put those 5-6 baked goods in rotation, double-batch and freeze some if needed. Your kids will thank you. Then you can thank me. 😉

Or, Balsamic-Tamari Tofu (read on). This recipe originates from Vive le Vegan, and has been a staple recipe for me – and many of my readers – for years. I used to make it with the herbs all the time, but noticed once we had the girls, they were a little fussy about all that herb-age! So, now, I do a most simplified marinade of tamari and either lemon juice or balsamic (usually balsamic because it is quicker) and a touch of maple syrup. Those modifications are in the recipe, which I’ve just posted. How to use it in lunches? Keep sliced for sandwiches, crumble and use in wraps, cut in squares and mix into quinoa or leftover pasta, add to soup, or let them eat it on the side with a sandwich. Many possibilities with this recipe, and lunch prep will be easy-breezy!

Either before school or after school, they are a brilliant way to nourish and sustain your kiddos in a nutrient-dense drink. Don’t just fill them up with fruit, balance with some greens and veggies if you can, and also add nutrient-rich hemp seeds, chia seeds, goji berries, or nut butters. Our eldest now loves green smoothies, and the trick for me was adding frozen pineapple. I’d used it before in green smoothies, but didn’t always want it myself. Yet, it is one of the best tricks for balancing any ‘green’ flavor tones. You can get the full green smoothie tutorial here. Also try the Acai Antioxidant Smoothie and Strawberry Goji Smoothies (in first smoothie link).

Make ’em soon, and make ’em often! There is a nut-free option in the recipe, so you can make these for school lunches. If you don’t want to roll into balls, you can also press into a small pan and cut into squares. I often double the batch (you need a larger processor to do so), and freeze half. They pack perfectly for lunches, and school parties (being nut-free, dairy-free, and also gluten-free) and also terrific when running out to activities.

This is one of our girls’ favorite soups. The recipe is in eat, drink & be vegan, but I have just posted it for you. Make it for dinner one evening, and send it to school in a thermos for the kiddos another day. Or, just keep the leftovers for a quick dinner another night. Some other soups my girls love include this White Bean Soup and Sweet Potato Lentil Chili.

This unassuming little recipe with nutritional yeast transforms many of our school lunches from drab to fab. I add it to pasta, and “ta-dah!”, kiddos love it. Sometimes I’ll use a basic marinara sauce, but more often I’ll do a simple slurry of apple cider vinegar, tamari, and maple syrup (just a touch) – mix it up to taste, toss into pasta, then mix in the cheesy sprinkle. Kids LOVE this for lunch. Add in some veg or beans (there’s those tamari roasted chickpeas again!), cubed tofu or tempeh, and it’s a very satisfying lunch. I also sprinkle it into wraps for the girls, with things like cubed potatoes and hummus, and into quinoa bowls. Many possibilities! Note that the original version is nut-based, but I offer a nut-free alternative in the recipe. This is the one I use for school lunches, and the girls really haven’t noticed the difference.

This may not be something you pack into lunches – though you certainly could, they are both nut-free – but your kiddos will love coming home to it! I have Chocolate and Pumpkin Chia Puddings posted, and in my upcoming cookbook (details soon), I have an Apple Pie Chia Pudding (plus a Bananascotch Pudding and PB Pudding with Fresh Berry Swirl, it’s going to be a fun book)!

With the school year comes school parties. Halloween, Christmas, birthdays… someone lost a tooth, someone has a new baby sister, it’s “party day”! Yeah, I’m exaggerating. But not much, us parents know the school party scene. Always a reason for a party – and junky treats. Most of the treats we see going in and out of schools are pretty crummy. So, get a healthier – but DELICIOUS – dairy-free, egg-free chocolate chip cookie recipe in your arsenal! My Homestyle Chocolate Chip Cookies are a classic, and have almost 250K YouTube views. These are your go-to vegan cookie.

photo credit: veganeatsandtreats.blogspot.ca

Other Tips for Smart and Plant-Powered Lunches

– Pack lunches the day before. There is already enough chaos in the morning, so pack the lunches during lunch the day before, or the evening before.

– Also fill water bottles! Have them ready in the fridge ready to tote.

– Cook things in batches through the week and weekend. Hummus, tamari roasted chickpeas, muffins, as mentioned above. But also batch-cook potatoes, sweet potatoes, rice, quinoa, beans, etc. All those staples can be used in wraps, sandwiches, added to soups, pastas, and more.

– Pack plenty of fresh fruit and make it EASY for them to eat. Yes, it feels a nuisance sometimes to peel those mandarins or cut oranges into bite-size pieces and pop into a container. Why not just pack the whole fruit? Because kids have very little time to eat in school, that’s why. So, make it easy for them to eat that fruit. Peel or slice or cut into small pieces and pack in a container along with a fork. They are far more likely to eat it.

– Pack occasional treats – seaweed snacks, baked chips, cookies, a few vegan gummy worms. They have very healthy lunches, let them find a treat once in a while!

– Have stock of different size containers(scroll down to ‘kitchen gear for kids and lunches). I have an entire cupboard with different sizes of containers. Some are ziploc, others are reused containers from nondairy yogurt or store-bought dips, etc. The smaller ones are great for fruit and snacky items, the larger ones for pasta, sandwiches, etc. One day I may reveal my crazy cupboard of containers and lids! If you prefer a bento box, this Planetbox gets top reviews.

– We all need shortcuts. You may not always get to making marinated tofu, making soup, or baking muffins. Get some Amy’s burgers or other veg burgers that you can easily heat and put in a sandwich, and pick up healthier granola bars or snack cookies. Try Amy’s baked beans in a wrap with rice (I always add about 1 cup or more of black or kidney beans to stretch it out) or Amy’s alphabet soup – amp up the nutritional profile by adding beans, cubed potatoes or sweet potatoes, or cubed tofu. Try a pre-marinated tofu which simply needs to be sliced or lightly heated. Keep some quick fixes on hand to avoid mama (or papa) food-prep burnout!

Next, here are some examples of lunches I’ve packed for our girls (photo quality not stellar, but sure to give you the idea):

First, PCRM has launched their September kickstart. I’ve been following PCRM from their early days, and am extremely proud to be partnered with them for this month’s kickstart. Not only are quite a few of my recipes in their 21-day plan, I am their “featured partner” for September. If you sign up and mention my name as the referral, you have the chance to win one of my books at the end of the program… plus you will be eligible to purchase the PP15 at a discounted rate. I don’t discount the Plant-Powered 15 ebook anywhere else, this is a special PCRM initiative. If you are new to the kickstart program, it is completely free to register. Every day you receive emails with recipe highlights, tips from celebrities, and more. There is also a community forum. In fact, I have met some very special readers here from the kickstart program! So, it’s a very cool way to network and also, obviously, get immersed in a healthy plant-strong dietary plan.

Second, I have just launched my Plant-Powered 15 on amazon. You can still order through my site, but now you have the option to order via amazon on your kindle. Since many of you already have the PP15, I am asking a wee favor: If you have and love this ebook, can you leave a short review on amazon? Would really help establish its presence. On the topic of reviews, I would also deeply appreciate extra reviews of LTEV. As I work to finish this next cookbook, it is helpful to build the reviews and profile on amazon. I sure appreciate any help. Thank you.

With that, I hope you enjoy these school lunch tips. PLEASEshare some of your own!What recipes do you rely on regularly? And, what are your go-to snacks and meals to pack into lunches. Any terrific quick-fixes to share?

This topic has been brewing in my heart and mind for a while. After returning from Vida Vegan Con, I thought it was a good time to open up this discussion.

You see, before leaving for VVC, I had some trepidation. I’ve been vegan almost 20 years, and yet had never been to an event that signified and exemplified veganism in its entirety like VVC. As most of you know, I came to veganism through my health, and later learned and integrated the animal ethics rooted in the word and movement. Talking with some colleagues before VVC, I was concerned that I wasn’t “vegan enough”.

Recently someone asked me on twitter why I never use the word vegan in my tweets. I was quite surprised. While I know I use the terms plant-powered and plant-based in my work, my cookbooks all have the the word vegan in their titles. I always shop for vegan shoes, clothes, and cosmetics, and choose the same options for my family wherever possible. Yet, in that moment I felt I wasn’t vegan enough.

One morning at the VVC conference, I was working out at the hotel fitness room while listening to Our Hen House. Who should walk in? Jasmin Singer. There were only three people in this fitness room. I laughed at myself, that here I was listening to her podcast with Mariann – and there Jasmin was, a few feet away. Yet I felt completely awkward to interrupt and introduce myself. Perhaps because I felt most of us don’t want to be bothered with introductions while working out. Or, perhaps because I felt I fell short in my vegan-ness. That might sound silly, but truthfully I have much gratitude and respect for people like Jasmin and Mariann, Victoria Moran, Jonathan Balcombe, and Gene Baur. They are the educators about veganism at its core, covering a breadth of vegan living topics including, but not limited to, the vegan diet.

I focus my time where I know I’m most effective – creating recipes and sharing food inspiration. I try to keep abreast of current issues surrounding animal rights and vegan activism, but often fall behind. My work has always teetered between the vegan and plant-based realm, so I guess I have felt connected to both without being attached to one exclusively. Alas, my work is an expression and reflection of being a Libra!

Backtrack to twitter. Shortly after receiving the question about my vegan-ness, I receive another addressing a nutritional issue with my recipes. I’ve always thought my work was healthy, and it certainly has evolved through my books and years of recipe development. Yet in this moment I felt it was not healthy enough.

I realize some of this is social media, and we need to temper the feedback we get and remain grounded in what we do. Yet, after my VVC trip, I realized that I am not the only one that has these insecurities about vegan and health absolution. I talked to some other bloggers that were also concerned that didn’t feel educated and informed enough for the vegan community, and likewise bloggers that felt they were committing health crimes in the plant-based community.

I returned from VVC invigorated and feeling renewed in my connections to veganism. Yet, I wondered if many of us in the community are having these thoughts (myself included), are we alienating those new to the plant-based diet or vegan lifestyle with notions of impossible perfection?

I’ve heard from many that eat plant-based but don’t want to identify with the word vegan for this very reason, because they are afraid they will be judged for not doing enough, not being vegan enough. And, I understand that, because the word encompasses far more than our diet. It is a life philosophy, a full belief system and change of consciousness. But if I sometimes feel not vegan enough… do you feel the same? Are you discouraged from making worthwhile changes in their lives and diets for fear of being judged that you aren’t entirely there?

I hope not.

But, let me return to the health component of eating vegan. Healthy vegan eating does matter in the long-term, because it is the only way to sustain and uplift the vegan movement. And, it matters even more when raising children. Yes, more. When you have children, those little lives become paramount in your life. Your compassion can extend to all living beings, but not at the expense of your own children. So, there is no point in discussing the welfare of pigs or chickens or dairy cows if a parent cannot believe that this way of eating can be optimally healthy for their child.

That in itself is entirely ironic when we look at the nutritional standards of the standard diet. But, as parents, we have believed that this is the cornerstone of health for our families – forever. As Dr. T. Colin Campbell writes in Whole:

Our society believes so passionately in the health value of milk and meat that it is hard for us to conceive that we might be wrong – that these foods might, in fact, be very unhealthy. It is too far outside of what we have been taught for decades for us to believe it easily, no matter how true it may be.

We have a lot of work ahead, to demonstrate to parents that a vegan or plant-based diet IS indeed healthy – the very understanding of healthy foods needs to change. Our food choices as a larger population will not change until we have a new definition of “healthy”, one that does not include meat and dairy.

So, we work to educate about the nutritional excellence of whole plant foods. Do our efforts communicate a standard of purity, leaving others to feel not healthy enough? We are so passionate about the nutritional beauty of our whole foods like beans and whole grains and leafy greens that we may very well communicate a message of perfectionism. There is no perfection in any diet. There is practice. If we are losing readers because of perceived notions of perfection, then we are failing our causes for improved health and animal welfare.

What also matters is helping people sustain this vegan lifestyle through beautiful, appetizing, sensory-pleasing – and healthy – vegan food. Not every food boasting a V is healthy! Doesn’t mean we cannot eat it, but it does mean we should know the difference. One of my personal food mantras is to focus on eating 90% whole and minimally processed foods. We have room for the treats, sure. Yet, we need to fuel and nourish our bodies for long-term connection and vitality with our vegan diet. I have noticed the more I eat lesser processed and whole plant foods… the more I want them! It might feel a chore at first to move away from the processed choices and make that big salad with beans and leafy greens and veggies for lunch. But not for long! Our bodies adapt and respond. The more we choose healthy foods – foods that ARE ingredients, not FULL of ingredients – the more we enjoy them, and the better we feel. We even begin to crave them.

Here’s what I realized after reflection on my week at VVC. It doesn’t matter that I am not the most educated about vegan activism. What matters is knowing that animal agriculture is warped and cruel. What matters is that eating animals is not necessary. What matters is choosing not to eat meat and dairy every meal of every day. And finally, what matters is helping to show others the same.

Vegan food is my activism. My goal is to share whole-foods recipes that will excite you – treats included! And to share messages about real, clean foods to inspire you to grow and thrive in this beautiful diet. Not to be perfect. But to come to understand and love the vegan basics – beans, grains, veg, fruit, nuts and seeds, and greens. To show you how they are the heart of the vegan diet. Whether you come to that diet from an ethical place, or for health reasons.

Is it naive, idealistic, and simplistic to think there is a place we can connect and support one another? That we can find common ground and build on that foundation for the greater good of better human health and also animal welfare?

Probably so. Here’s the thing. My heart is in both places. So, I will continue to reach out to you from both perspectives, with optimism.

That is vegan enough for me. And healthy enough for me. How about you?

Do you feel these dietary and ethical pressures? How do you resolve them? Please share your insights with others.

This post is “part 1” of an Easter post. I was going to give you savory and sweet recipes all in one post – plus Easter Egg Hunt ideas, but it was shaping up to be far too long. So, today we talk about dessert recipes for Easter, as well as ideas for your vegan Easter Egg Hunt! Before the weekend, I will bring you another post with some savory dishes that I think are perfect for Easter and welcoming Spring!

Mention “dessert” and I think of chocolate. Wait, ice cream. Yes, definitely ice cream. Because chocolate is my afternoon treat. 😉 Who says we can’t enjoy both? As much as I love chocolate, I often prefer a lighter dessert or evening treat, especially now that the weather is warming up and the days are brighter. With Easter this weekend, I thought I’d share a dessert that is just perfectfor a special occasion – not to mention sunnier days (rejoicing here on the “wet” coast)!

This is my Raw Lemon-Lime Cheesecake with Fresh Mango Sauce from LTEV. While many raw cheesecakes use coconut oil, this one doesn’t. My version uses coconut butter, which is similar to nut butter – it is the whole coconut meat pureed into butter. It makes the magic in this recipe (and in many dessert recipes, imho). I discovered Artisana Coconut Butter about 5-6 years ago, and have loved it ever since. Slowly it has become more available in stores (I used to order it online), and slightly more affordable. It’s not cheap, but it’s worth every penny (er, should I now say nickel?) for a homemade, delicious, healthy dessert!

Raw cheesecakes trump any tofu or soy cream cheese version (at least for me)! I wanted to come up with my own signature raw cheesecake. This one combines the tang and flavor of both lemon and lime juice, and has a tropical twist with coconut in the crust and a fresh mango sauce for serving. The recipe makes a fairly large batch of mango sauce. You can halve the batch or save the extra to top other foods, such as yogurt or waffles. You can also try the Fresh Strawberry Sauce as a switch from the mango puree. Regardless of the sauce you choose, this dessert is heavenly.

Wipe the bottom and sides of a 9-inch springform pan to lightly oil (can use coconut butter or oil). Prepare the crust: Place the almonds and pecans in a food processor. Pulse until very crumbly, then add the remaining ingredients and process until the mixture will hold together when pressed. Transfer the mixture to the prepared springform pan. To prepare the filling, place all the filling ingredients in a high-powered blender (see note). Puree until very, very smooth and lightened in color. Pour the mixture over the crust and tip the pan back and forth to distribute evenly. Cover the pan with foil and pop into the freezer to set (you can freeze overnight, if you like, but freeze at least 3 to 4 hours so it can become firmer). Serves 6-8.

To prepare the mango sauce: Combine all the sauce ingredients in a blender and puree until smooth; refrigerate in a covered container until ready to serve. To serve, remove the cake from the freezer for 30 minutes to 1 hour to soften slightly before slicing. Serve with the sauce.

If This Apron Could Talk: It’s helpful to make the crust a day ahead if you have the time; it spreads out the preparation work and makes for easier cleanup!

If you don’t want cheesecake, what other desserts would be great for Easter?

Banana Butter Pie – p.253 Let Them Eat Vegan. I don’t have a photo of this recipe, and don’t have it posted. But it is AMAZING! It doesn’t have butter in it, rather NUT butter! So, if anyone wants to take a pretty pic of this pie, I’ll post it asap! (Deal?!) 😉

Raw Chocolate Dream Mousse Pie – Forget dessert, I’d have this for breakfast! 😉 Another LTEV dessert (just realizing how many desserts I have in that book)!

Now, let’s share ideas for Easter morning!

What do you do with your kiddos? What vegan Easter treats do you buy/hide? I do a couple of things. I have a bunch of plastic eggs and I fill those with inexpensive, small surprises – stickers, vegan gummies, foil-wrapped dark chocolate eggs, erasers, key chain, etc. I hide those along with some extra foil-wrapped dark chocolate eggs around the house (some years it’s been nice enough outside to hide in the garden, but often it’s wet). Other years, I give them each a small stuffy (they can never have enough stuffies, geez!) and do less ‘little’ treats, hiding mostly the gummies and chocolate eggs.

School can be tricky, however. Several years they dyed eggs in their classes. One year, our daughter’s class needed SIX eggs. I was stumped initially, realizing that plastic eggs wouldn’t work for dyeing -styrofoam eggs might have worked but I couldn’t find them. Then, I thought about it and realized that many craft stores carry wooden items for painting. I managed to pick up six wooden eggs, plus a few more. They did not dye as well as I thought they might, but they were still pretty and the girls had fun. And, many years later we still have the eggs!

So, let’s share our experiences as vegan parents. What are your Easter traditions? What vegan treats do you buy and hide? And, do you have any other alternatives to wooden eggs for class projects? Also, please share any favorite Easter dessert recipes!